Starting life as a farmer and then becoming a lawyer, Patrick Henry was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but “smelt a rat” and refused to attend. He was a part of Virginia House of Delegates. His political career started with his victory of the Parson’s Cause, defending the colonists. Virginia was the most populous, wealthiest, largest colony. It was a very big farming colony and produced a lot tobacco, its staple crop. People who agree with Henry would be Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and anyone who’s an anti-federalist. People who disagree with Patrick Henry are most likely a Federalist.
Virginia Ratification Debate
Patrick Henry attended the Virginian Ratification Debate, opposing the Constitution, especially without any Bill of Rights since it was believe the Bill of Rights contained natural rights that the government could not infringe on. It passed 89-79. If five people had voted against the Constitution, it would not have passed in Virginia. Patrick Henry was one of the 79 to vote against the Constitution.
Arguments
The Constitution did not contain Bill of Rights, making it easier for the government to infringe on citizens natural rights. Anti-Federalists feared that the president would gain too much power and the representative democracy would soon turn to a monarchy. Having a strong national government would threaten the state governments. The national government cannot possibly understand the needs of each individual state and achieve those needs. A state government is therefore more efficient. New England is extremely different from the south; therefore they should not be making decisions for the south. The Constitution favors wealthy men and helped preserve their power. For the Constitution to be ratified, it needed 2/3 consent. The Articles of Confederation required every state to ratify it. If every state has to ratify the Constitution then there would be no reason for states to complain about the structure of the government since they ultimately decided it. States feared being overridden by the national government. A Bill of Rights would please everyone by making sure the individual states and common man was protected. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state has one vote and almost everything is left up to the state. For there to be any amendment, every state must agree.
Bibliography
"Annals of American History." Annals of American History. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
Anti-Federalist
Representing Virginia
Background
Starting life as a farmer and then becoming a lawyer, Patrick Henry was elected as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, but “smelt a rat” and refused to attend. He was a part of Virginia House of Delegates. His political career started with his victory of the Parson’s Cause, defending the colonists. Virginia was the most populous, wealthiest, largest colony. It was a very big farming colony and produced a lot tobacco, its staple crop. People who agree with Henry would be Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, and anyone who’s an anti-federalist. People who disagree with Patrick Henry are most likely a Federalist.
Virginia Ratification Debate
Patrick Henry attended the Virginian Ratification Debate, opposing the Constitution, especially without any Bill of Rights since it was believe the Bill of Rights contained natural rights that the government could not infringe on. It passed 89-79. If five people had voted against the Constitution, it would not have passed in Virginia. Patrick Henry was one of the 79 to vote against the Constitution.
Arguments
The Constitution did not contain Bill of Rights, making it easier for the government to infringe on citizens natural rights. Anti-Federalists feared that the president would gain too much power and the representative democracy would soon turn to a monarchy. Having a strong national government would threaten the state governments. The national government cannot possibly understand the needs of each individual state and achieve those needs. A state government is therefore more efficient. New England is extremely different from the south; therefore they should not be making decisions for the south. The Constitution favors wealthy men and helped preserve their power. For the Constitution to be ratified, it needed 2/3 consent. The Articles of Confederation required every state to ratify it. If every state has to ratify the Constitution then there would be no reason for states to complain about the structure of the government since they ultimately decided it. States feared being overridden by the national government. A Bill of Rights would please everyone by making sure the individual states and common man was protected. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state has one vote and almost everything is left up to the state. For there to be any amendment, every state must agree.
Bibliography
"Annals of American History." Annals of American History. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Antifederalists vs. Federalists." GPS Faculty Pages. GPS Falculty Pages, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Patrick Henry on the Constitution." Patrick Henry on the Constitution. Academic American History, 27 May 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
"Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial." Red Hill - Patrick Henry National Memorial. Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
Robertson, David. "Viewpoint 9." Debates and Other Preceedings of the Convention of Virginia. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.